That the HIV and AIDS epidemic is fuelled by structural injustices is not a new discovery. Several studies reveal the link between the HIV transmission and the spread of the epidemic and the structural inequalities created by human beings themselves in terms of economic and political structures sustained by the patriarchal socio-cultural and religious beliefs systems. In most African rural contexts, faith communities have the potential to alter the course of the epidemic given their moral authority in community and their direct connection with people. However, they are seldom theologically equipped to address the structural inequalities that fuel the spread of HIV and AIDS. This study critically analyses the specific factors driving the HIV and AIDS epidemic in Burundian context and the challenge that they pose to the Burundian Pentecostal churches‘ theology of mission. The study argues that Burundian Pentecostal churches are not responding the epidemic as they should because their responses are informed by a theological framework of mission that was elaborated in the early years of the 20th century and which was responding to theological and social questions quite different to the questions raised by the current HIV context. To overcome this theological irrelevancy that has led to a failure to respond to the political, socio-economic, and cultural factors that fuel the spread of HIV infection, the study suggests that there is a need to adopt a theological framework rooted in a holistic understanding of the mission of the church in the world as defined by the concept of missio Dei. The practical implication of this theological framework is that it challenges faith communities in general and Burundian Pentecostals in particular to become transforming agents not only interested in right relationships between God and humans but also committed to the transformation of political, economic, socio-cultural and religious structures that sustain unequal relationships between humans and between humanity and the rest of creation. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.

Faith-based development initiatives often experience difficulties with efficiency and sustainability. While there are a number of reasons for this, one of the more common reasons is poor management. This study therefore presents a contemporary approach to management, the Management Process Approach, and discusses its relevance for faith-based development work. Because Christians sometimes resist the idea of applying management principles and practices, some of the reasons often given in resistance are addressed. It is acknowledged, however, that secular theory cannot be applied unquestioningly. The extent to which this theory allows for the actualisation of the Christian principles of love, justice, stewardship, humility and dignity is suggested as a useful measure by which the appropriateness of management theory for faith-based development initiatives can be determined. This study investigates four real faith-based development initiatives in relation to the four processes in the Management Process Approach. These processes are planning, organising, leading and controlling. In addition, a fifth process, financing, is included, since this is such a vital and often problematic issue in development work in general that it requires special attention. No empirical data is presented since no hypothesis is being tested. Rather, this study introduces and illustrates the possibility of using management theory to increase the effectiveness of faith-based development initiatives. However, some general suggestions and recommendations, drawn from the theory and case studies, are presented in the final chapter. The ultimate conclusion states that while management theory certainly does have much to teach managers of faith-based development initiatives, a Christian manager should never become so concerned about following the rules set out in management textbooks that he neglects the God whom he serves, and thus fails to uphold Christian principles in his daily interactions with people. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001.

This thesis addresses the issue of the millennial reign of Christ in Revelation 20: 1-10. It is an attempt to investigate whether the millennium is a future event or already inaugurated. The Apocalypse has been the focus of attention of many end time movements down through the ages. This thesis picks up one of the most popular issues out of such a focus. One of the issues in the Apocalypse of John is the expectation of a thousand year reign of Christ. During the period of early Christianity up to the middle ages the question of the nature of the millennium has been controversial. Recently the debate over the millennial reign of Christ in the Apocalypse has intensified more than ever before. Three major views have been advocated and such views have brought in a greater dilemma, since the reader of the Apocalypse has to choose one of the views. Having grown up in an evangelical religious background, which places emphasis upon apocalyptic ideologies; I found myself becoming more and more attracted to this debate. At last I have entered the wagon with a view to demonstrate, in my own way, that the millennial reign is already actualised rather than expected. This sounds very controversial compared to what has always been thought by many Christians since their early days of Sunday School. This 'territory' has been trod by various scholars so much so that I am not in a position to claim to be a pioneer in this investigation. I endeavour to re-examine the issue of millennium in the light of a sociological analysis from my own perspective. I intend to perceive the other side of the mountain that has been hidden from me all along ( as a hidden transcript of the Apocalypse). After having established the task of rethinking millennium. I wish to go further and look at the East African concept of millennium, even though no comparative study is intended at this level of my research, apart from laying bare the framework, such is very important for the inculturation of theology today. This thesis will be tabulated into three main parts, the first deals with sociology of sects and the Apocalypse, in this part a model will be formulated, which will be applied in the delineation of the Apocalypse community in chapter three. The second part deals with the concept of millennium within the Bible and ends up with an exegesis of the passage that clearly mentions this term. The third part deals with the East African concept of millennium and the conclusion of the whole thesis. All Biblical quotations are from the Revised Standard Version Bible, while all the abbreviations follow Killian (1985). / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001.

There has been much discussion on the roles of men and women in the church today. One of the crucial questions being asked is whether women should be ordained as ministers. Many debates have been centered on the question, "Should women teach?" "Should women exercise authority with men?" "Are men and women equal?" These questions have been approached from different angles. In recent years many denominations have increased opportunities for women in ministry. This thesis sets out to look at opportunities for women in ministry in the Evangelical Church of South Africa (ECSA). It is important to discover what Scripture says about the role of women in the church. The desire to be totally involved in ministry in the church has prompted women's struggle for emancipation. By looking at the culture and background of Indian women in South Africa we are able to ascertain some of the problems facing Indian women in ministry. In order to do this, Old Testament teachings, teachings of Jesus in the gospels and doctrinal teachings in the New Testament have been considered. Various views of those who have written on women in ministry have also been considered. This thesis is not an attempt to undermine the leadership of the ECSA, but rather it wishes to bring clarity on the issue of the ministry of women in the ECSA. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001.

In Kenya as elsewhere in Africa, women are economically deprived. This situation is exacerbated when a husband, who has been the sole bread winner, dies leaving his wife with no financial support to look after herself and the children. Traditionally, these women were cared for by levirate marriage. With the coming of modernization, care of widows has dramatically changed. It is in this understanding this study was undertaken to examine how the ACK Diocese of Nairobi, can explore some practical ways and means of dealing with issues affecting widows and address the cultural regulations that oppress, dehumanize and victimize them in the society and in the church. This thesis further examines how an African woman, living in a changing world can continue with her life once widowed. This is considering the fact that she is living in a male dominated society. After the first chapter, which provides background information, motivation and the research focus, the study proceeds with an investigation of what widows experience after their husband's death. Through the formal interviews the study asserts that widows undergo cultural marginalisation, emotional stress, financial insecurity and lack of meaning, control and purpose oflife. Then the study proceeds to a theological reflection on this experience in light of the word of God and the church. It points that it was a biblical tradition in the Old Testament and the New Testament to care for widows. The church is challenged to continue with this and redefine its original goal, at same the time rebuking the injustices in the society. In response to the experience of widows and the theological reflection, the thesis argues that there is need for a holistic four-fold ministry to widows in the ACK Diocese of Nairobi. It is argued that the church should be involved in the role of advocacy, counselling, empowerment and job creation. This is to help them regain their dignity, self-esteem, and become self-reliant. The thesis concludes with a set of practical proposals for the Anglican Diocese of Nairobi. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001.

This study tests the legitimacy of Charles Nyamiti's integration of the traditional Christian doctrines with the African (Bantu) thought-patterns in the construction of an African Christian theology. This study centres on Nyamiti's christology and ecclesiology It in African Christian theology which is constructed on the basis of perceived parallelism which exists between the role and authority of the traditional African (Bantu) ancestors and that of the person of Christ and his role in the Church. The traditional Christian doctrine (classical dogmatics) is the foundational framework of any theology. The traditional Christian doctrine teaches that God was incarnate in the person of Christ. Thus, the traditional Christian doctrine depicts Christ as both human and divine and the two natures are united together and are inseparable. Those who believe and have faith in Christ and his teachings are united together with him. Against this background, the study discusses the Bantu existential world-view which includes the role of ancestors in the community. Here, the concept of interrelatedness of hierarchy of dynamistic powers in the society are also discussed. Nyamiti tries to . bring these two world-views together and suggests that they are compatible. The study ends by offering a theological evaluation and reflection on Nyamiti's construct. The study has argued that Nyamiti picks up some of the elements found in the nature and function of Christ according to the explanation given in the traditional Christian doctrine and then parallels them to that of the role of the traditional Bantu ancestors to formulate his christology and ecclesiology. The study has concluded that although Nyamiti's theological construct aims at illuminating the Christian faith among the peoples of Africa who count on the authority of the traditional ancestors, it founders in a flood of methodological problems which detract from the conclusivity of his construct. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2000.

This paper argues that an adequate definition of poverty is necessary for the church if it is to make a positive contribution to poverty alleviation. The definitions of Amartya Sen, Klaus Nurnberger and Bryant Myers are examined in the light of the Biblical witness of the Old and New Testaments. Building on the definition of Myers, the essay then explores some possible strategies for the church in poverty alleviation such as building healthy relationships, using the pulpit, and affirming the poor as agents of their own transformation. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002.

This study establishes what the Akan and Biblical concepts of a human being are in terms of origin, constitution, gender, body form, age, status, moral behaviour, ethnic affiliation, and communality. It then compares the Akan concepts with the Biblical concepts to see what the similarities are, and, what the differences are? The findings are that in terms of origin, constitution, gender, age, status, moral behaviour, ethnic affiliation and communality, the concepts are similar even though there are some differences. For example, while in both Akan and Biblical thought, the human being consists of material and immaterial components, the Akan have five components, namely, :Jkra, honhom, sunsum, mogya and nipadua, and the Biblical has three, body, soul and spirit. In terms of body form, Akan thought is completely different from Biblical thought. The presence of such differences in thought poses a problem in evangelism as it often leads to conflict. Yet this should not be for it then affects the effectiveness of evangelism. This study therefore illustrates how Akan culture, just as it is, can be interpreted by the Bible and thus establishes that it is possible to evangelise cross culturally without creating conflict so that the Christian faith can be integrated into the culture. This is possible only if evangelists know and understand the culture in which they try to evangelise, if they know what needs their beliefs and practices meet for them. The study proposes that for effective evangelism to take place, the church must take up the study of cultures seriously and provide funds for it. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2000.

The research focuses on the human dignity of prisoners and their families. The dominant human rights perspective of human dignity in terms of retributive justice is critiqued for its punishment approach of imprisonment which does not meet the benchmark of respecting human dignity but instead perpetuates experiences of indignity for prisoners and their families. While the approach of human rights under restorative justice as opposed to retributive justice is supported as a better approach to counter indignity, it’s dominant approaches are also shown to particularly overlook the dignity of prisoners and their families by often not focusing on their plight, and neglecting the very values of restorative justice. A case study of the Phoenix Zululand restorative justice programme, in KwaZulu-Natal South Africa confirms that a restorative justice approach that respects these values can re-humanise prisoners and their families. The study includes a discussion of the Christian perspective on human dignity, which forms a basis for a theological response to the indignity experienced by prisoners and their families. The concepts of Imago Dei and Imago Trinitatis as fully revealed in Jesus Christ lay the foundation for human dignity in the Christian perspective. The study concludes by showing how this theological basis has implications for the Church in working with prisoners and their families and also highlights some areas for future research. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.

This research is a study of the history of liberation catechesis with a special emphasis on the contribution of the Catholic Church in South Africa to the catechetical renewal from 1965 to 1991. It is fundamentally an exercise in contextual catechesis and starts from the pre-supposition that it is the particular situation under which people live, in this case the South African context, which gives catechesis its existence and its specifity. Exploring the catechetical productions of the Catholic Church in South Africa from 1965 to 1991, this study shows how the clergy of the Catholic Church remained in constant turmoil searching for ways and means of meeting the demands of the catechetical renewal called for by the Second Vatican Council. In this quest for renewal it was imperative for catechetical experts to engage with the South African Context. In this enterprise there was a preoccupation with linking the Christian message and the people's life despite all the tensions, conflicts and divisions within the Catholic Church and the society as a whole. It is this need of linking the Christian faith and people's life situation in South Africa which is understood as a liberation catechesls or a liberating catechesls. It is an all-embracing catechesis because it takes into account all aspects of human life and aims at a better life. It was not an easy task as one could see through the South African situation. However it was necessary if the Catholic Church wanted to proclaim a Christian message which is relevant to the people of South Africa. Initiating a liberation catechesis demands a lot of courage and commitment because it is a question of life and death. The people who embarked on this road in South Africa were bound to call for change including the political system which affected the life of the people at the time. It is in this sense that their life was at risk. Despite this risk, progressive bishops, priests and catechists held that liberation catechesis is the way out for the Catholic Church in South Africa to be relevant to the people. This is where the South African context offers a way out for other local Churches in South Africa trapped in social and ethnic conflict today, namely the Church in Rwanda. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2000.